Laser apparatus having temperature control function for maintenance work

Active Publication Date: 2017-03-02
FANUC LTD
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a laser apparatus that allows for quick maintenance work without having to wait for the temperature inside the housing to rise. The apparatus includes a housing with an openable sealed structure, an optical system, a temperature regulation mechanism to keep the optical system at a predetermined temperature, and a preparatory step controller to control a preparatory step performed before opening the housing. The temperature regulation mechanism maintains the optical system at the first temperature during operation of the laser apparatus and at a second temperature of the first temperature or more when the preparatory step is started. Additionally, the apparatus may also include an air feeding part to feed dry air to the inside of the housing when the preparatory step is started. This design enables quick maintenance work and prevents condensation formation in the housing.

Problems solved by technology

In the past, if opening the door of a housing holding optical parts etc. during maintenance work, condensation was liable to form, so it was necessary to wait for a long time until the temperature inside the housing sufficiently rose.

Method used

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  • Laser apparatus having temperature control function for maintenance work
  • Laser apparatus having temperature control function for maintenance work
  • Laser apparatus having temperature control function for maintenance work

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Experimental program
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Effect test

first embodiment

[0027]FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C show an example of the configuration of a laser apparatus 10 according to a The laser apparatus 10 utilizes a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator for use for processing a workpiece, for example, welding it, drilling a hole in it, or cutting it. The laser apparatus 10 includes an optical system 11, a power unit 12, a temperature regulation mechanism 2, and a controller 3 controlling the temperature regulation mechanism 2.

[0028]The optical system 11 includes various optical parts used in the laser apparatus 10. The optical parts include a reflection mirror forming an optical resonator.

[0029]The power unit 12 supplies electric power for exciting a laser medium to the laser oscillator. The laser medium may be carbon dioxide gas or another gas or may be glass, a crystal, semiconductor, or other solid.

[0030]The optical system 11 and the power unit 12 are held in a housing 4 having a generally sealed structure. The housing 4 includes an openable ...

second embodiment

[0052]FIG. 2C shows an example of the configuration of a laser apparatus 10 according to a modification of the In the present modification, the pump 26 may be configured so as to be connected to an additional heat exchanger 27 different from the heat exchanger 22 in the preparatory step. The heat exchanger 27, as shown by the arrows 28, is configured to exchange heat with the outside air. Therefore, the cooling water circulated by the pump 26 is warmed until reaching about the outside air temperature.

[0053]In other modifications of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the cooling water recirculation system 21 may also house a heater used in the preparatory step. The heater is used for heating the cooling water supplied for cooling the optical system 11. Therefore, according to the present modification, the temperature of the optical system 11 is made to quickly rise. It is possible to complete the preparatory step in a short time and possible to perform the maintenance w...

third embodiment

[0055]FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of a laser apparatus 10 according to a According to the present embodiment, in the preparatory step, the target temperature of the optical system 11 is calculated according to the outside air temperature.

[0056]The controller 3 according to the present embodiment is further provided with a first temperature acquiring part 33 and a target temperature calculating part 34. The first temperature acquiring part 33 acquires an outside air temperature from a not shown temperature sensor. In one embodiment, the temperature sensor may be attached to the housing 4 or may be provided in the vicinity of the housing 4. Alternatively, the temperature sensor may also be attached to the cooling water recirculation system 21.

[0057]The target temperature calculating part 34 calculates the target temperature of the optical system 11 in accordance with the outside air temperature acquired by the first temperature acquiring part 33. In one embodiment, t...

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Abstract

A laser apparatus able to prevent the formation of condensation at the time of maintenance work. The laser apparatus includes a housing having an openable sealed structure, an optical system set inside the housing, a temperature regulation mechanism maintaining the optical system at a predetermined temperature, and a preparatory step controller controlling a preparatory step performed before opening the housing. The temperature regulation mechanism is configured to maintain the optical system at a first temperature during operation of the laser apparatus and to maintain the optical system at a second temperature of the first temperature or more when the preparatory step is started.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a laser apparatus.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Some component parts used in laser apparatuses become shorter in lifetime if used at a high temperature. Conversely, if the temperature becomes too low, the characteristics of the laser are able to change. For this reason, in general, the temperature is controlled so that the component parts are maintained at a predetermined temperature of 15° C. to 30° C. in range.[0005]When a laser apparatus is used in a high temperature, high humidity environment, due to the temperature difference between the outside air and the component parts which are maintained at a low temperature, condensation sometimes forms. In particular, if condensation forms at an optical part, it causes the laser light to be absorbed or scattered and the desired performance can no longer be realized. Further, if dust or volatile matter or other foreign matter a...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): H01S3/04
CPCH01S3/0407H01S3/0401H01S3/1028
InventorMORI, ATSUSHI
OwnerFANUC LTD